Electrocution chamber for animals



JQ P. MEDLIN- LEQTRocUTIQN CHAMBER Fon ANIMALS May 11, 1948.

Filed Nov. 10. 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 u Mlm J. P. MEDLIN ELEcTRocUTIoNCHAMBER FOR ANtMALs May 11, 1948.

Filled Nov. 1o, 1944 2 sheetssneet 2 Patented May 1l? 1948 UNITED.(STATE variancel v l u ELEc'rnocU'rIoN'CHAMBERVFORANIMALS John P.Mealin; Great Falls, Monti Application November 10,1944, serial-Normas@2 claims. (c1. 17'-1) ff This invention relates to a. humane device fordisposing of stray or diseased animalssuch 'as dogs andk cats which mustbe destroyed to protect the health and safety of organized communities.

The problem of how to dispose of such animals has never been verysatisfactorily solved. Drowning, shooting and asphyxiation with lethalgases are commonly used, but they are cruel and inhuman and alsosomewhat dangerous to the operator, particularly in the case of thelethal gas method. Electrocution f by a sufllciently high voltage tocause instant death is believed to be the most humane way of disposingof these animalsbut its use has been limited and restricted because' ofthe inherent great danger to the operators. Y

The principal object ofl this invention is to provide a means for thehumane electrocution of small animals with no risk to the operator andat low cost..

A further object is to provide an electrocution chamber for the humaneelectrocution of small animals which may be transported from'place toplace with great ease 'and which may be energized by means ofthe'standard 115/120 volt al-A ternating current.

Another object is the provision of an electrocution device of thecharacter described which provides contact with the skin of the animalas distinguished from the hair or fur, thus providing the necessarycontact for sending an electric current through the body of the animal,suiiicient to cause instant death.

These and other objects are attained by mechanism shown in theaccompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectionof the entire device on the line I--I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a detailed View of the safety switch of the device;

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the pin mechanism which prevents downwardmovement of the upper electrode of the device when such movement is notdesired; Y

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device as a whole; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view ofthe electric circuit of the deviceshowing it connected up with the upper and lower electrodes thereof.

The electrocution device shown in the drawing is provided with aninsulated chamber I0 mounted on a pair of wheels II and a rest I2. Setinto the sides of the chamber are glass windows I3 and mounted at thefront end of the chamber is VS1.-

tically slidable, non-'removable door I4. The chamber is equipped witha'handle I5 to facilitateits transportation from place to place.

On top of the ehamberIU and at the front end thereof,is al secondarychamber I6 which is also insulated. 'This chamber houses the transformer`I'I which may be of-the 1000 watt 115 to 2200 voltdry type. I Thetransformer is provided with ank velectric cord I8 which has va standardplug for plugging linto any 115/120 *volt alternating current appliancereceptacle.`

The transformer is .controlledbyswitch I9 which is mounted onthe innerfront wall of the secondary chamber. The switch comprises a bellcrank.20 whichserves as one contact point i and a terminal. 2| vwhichserves as the other contact point. A relatively vstrong tension spring22 normally holds the bell crank out of contact with the terminal.`'Axially-'islidable handle 23 brings the bell crank into contact'withthe terminal against the action'of-the spring. n'Il't willibe noted thatastrong, deliberate pullk onfthe handle is necessary to close thecircuit and that kwhen the handle is released the circuit isautomatically broken.l It will .also be noted that the line of movementof the handle intersects the path of movement of the door. When the dooris raised to open the electrocution chamber, the switch handle cannot bepulled out to close the circuit. If the handle is pulled out prior toopening the door and the handle is held in that position, the doorcannot be opened.

'Ihe chamber I 0 is provided with one lower fixed electrode 30 and oneupper vertically movable electrode 3 I. The lower electrode comprises ahorizontally disposed metal plate 32 of high electrical conductivityafiixed to the floor of the chamber and a series oi parallel angle bars33 also 0f high conductivity afxed to the upper Surface of said plate32. An electric wire 34 connects said electrode with the transformer.

The upper electrode 3l comprises a horizontally disposed plate 35 ofhigh electrical conductivity having prongs 36 aixed to its lowersurface, the prongs being also made of material that conducts electriccurrent well. A vertically disposed shaft 31 made of material that doesnot conduct electricity is slidably disposed in bearing 3B which isaffixed to the upper wall of chamber I0. Movable electrode 3I is aixedto its lower end and handle 39 to its upper end. Handle 39 serves twofunctions: it is used to raise the movable electrode and it also servesto prevent said Aelectrode from contacting the fixed electrode. It willbe seen in Fig. 1 that the handle is stopped l, in registrationtherewith. A handle 43 at the end of said pin is used to pull said pinout of the notch. A flexible electric wire 44 connects said upperelectrode-3| with the transformer. Y

When it is desired tcV operate the device, the transformer is connectedto any standard electrical outlet, the movable electrode 3| is raiseduntil pin 4l enters notch 49, thedoor I4 isopened,

and the animal is brought into the chamber- I0. The door I4 is nowlowered thereby `closing the chamber. 'Ihe pin is drawn :out of-thenotch thereby enabling electrode 3l to descend of its :own weight. Theweight of said electrode is not very considerable since .said electrodeis intended to be made `of relatively light materials in order to causethe animal no .great zdiscomfort when it reaches the animal and restsupon it. .Prongs 3'3 will penetrate the hair or fur ef the 7animal andpainlessly contact its skin. At the Sametime, the feet of the animalwill `bein contact with fixed electrode 3U. Angle bars 33 will here andthere also penetrate the hair or `fur .of the animal and will contactlitszskin. The apparatus is now ready for the inal act. The switch 49 isclosed and electrocution takes place.

Variations in the device as described may be had without departing fromthe principles `of the invention. Thus, in place of handle I5, .atrailer coupling may be substituted Vfin' attaching the -device to anautomobile. In place ,of angle 'bars 33 on the ixed electrodeprongedmembers or grates may be substituted. These members may be provided withany .suitablefshape .so vlung as they have a plurality of relatively:sharp projections or yedges-sharp enough te penetrate the hair oftheanimal kyet dull :enough to avoid puncturing the skin. Y

I claim:

1. An electrocution device .for animals 4cum- 4 prising an insulatedchamber containing a ixed lower electrode and a vertically movable upperelectrode, means supplying high voltage current to said electrodes, amanually operated switch which is normally held open under springtension controlling said current supplying means, and a non-removable,sliding door in one of the walls of said chamber, said switch having ahandle whose line of movement intersects the path of movement of thedoor, said handle being inaccessible when the door is in raisedposition.

2. An electrocution device for animals comprising an insulated chambercontaining a iixed lower electrode and a vertically movable upperelectrode, and means supplying high voltage current -to said electrodes,the upper electrode being mounted on the -lower end of a vertically.movable insulated shaft which is carried by a bearing on the chamber, ahandle at the upper end of said shaft which engages the bearing ondownward movement of the upper electrode before the latter contacts vthelower electrode, and tensioned means 'for holding said shaft in raisedposition.

JOHN P. MEDLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following'references are of record in the ile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

